Events

Amsterdam was once the ‘Mecca of marijuana.’ They had the best marijuana on the planet according to my friends that traveled there, and their laws were very liberal. After all, that’s why High Times always held their annual Cannabis Cup event there. But it appears that those days are gone, as this year’s Cannabis Cup has been the target of Amsterdam’s mayor. Per The Cannabist:

The Amsterdam ‎Cannabis Cup‬ was shut down on Sunday — its first day — for fear that “all participants would be arrested,” according to organizer High Times magazine.

The mag said the mayor’s office had issues with the legality of the Cannabis Cup.

“This morning we were informed that if were to proceed with the Cannabis Cup Expo the event would be shut down and all participants would be arrested,” High Times wrote on Sunday. “In the 26 years of the Cannabis Cup, there has never been any health or safety issues, nor has there been any lawlessness on the part of attendees.”

New rules in Amsterdam resulted in this year’s Cannabis Cup being dab free. Participants are not allowed to share marijuana either, which drastically changed the Cannabis Cup. Yet, despite the attempts by the Amsterdam mayor to crush the spirit of the Cup, the event moved on with seminars as planned. Per High Times:

It’s official: What should have been a death knell for this year’s Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam has only made us stronger.

All seminars held at the Melkweg today were packed. Cup attendees, even after all they have been through, remained in good spirits and eager to learn all the insider secrets (grow and otherwise) that were unveiled during the day.

Again, this Cup and been a difficult one so far, but we (both HIGH TIMES and all Cup attendees) are standing strong. Until tomorrow!

I’m curious to see what the future holds for the Amsterdam Cannabis Cup. With Amsterdam becoming more and more conservative with it’s marijuana laws, will the Cup continue to be held there? If so, will people keep attending the Cup knowing that it isn’t the same as it used to be? High Times is holding more and more Cups in America, so will people just start going to those instead of traveling to Amsterdam? While I only plan on attending Cups in America, it’s a sad day to know that the amazing event that has occurred in Amsterdam for so many years is not going to be the same as it used to be. In a way, it’s the end of an era.

Were you planning on attending Hempstalk in Oregon next year? Might have to rethink your plans unfortunately, as the Portland parks officials have denied the permit of Hempstalk Festival for 2015. Not only did the officials deny the permit, they waited until the day after Oregon’s vote to join Colorado and Washington in legal cannabis for recreational users. The park officials sent a letter the Paul Stanford the day after the vote. The letter said that Stanford couldn’t organize Hempstalk at Tom McCall Waterfront Park or any other public property.

Even though Hempstalk has previously been held in Portland, city officials stated that past years of the event haven’t been organized well. The disorganization they’re referring to means that attendees were smoking cannabis and the organizers of the event were unable or unwilling to intervene. On Wednesday, Shawn Rogers, the Parks Bureau customer service center, wrote that the denial of the permit stems from the inability of those organizing the event to manage it in accordance with the necessary condition that are clearly outlined for such an event.

Lax rules at Hempstalk may end up being it’s downfall, as the city had people go to Hempstalk in order to see how things were going. Previously, the event had been held at Kelley Point Park in North Portland. Officials that attended said that there was a serious problem controlling those in the crowd that were smoking. Not only that but when Rogers himself attended the event, he heard speakers from the main stage telling attendees to go outside the front gates in order to smoke weed. Rogers said that the smoke was so thick, “I actually felt like I was at risk of getting high.”

Rogers and the other parks officials made sure to say that the denial of the Hempstalk 2015 permit isn’t a stab at the marijuana community in general. It’s more so about the ability of those who put on the event, as they previously haven’t followed the guidelines that the parks officials request. “There’s no reason why an event can’t be done legally, lawfully, and well managed,” Rogers said. It is nice to smoke marijuana at an event that’s related to the plant. But is it worse to not smoke or to just not have the event at all?

“We intend to seek a writ of review,” Lawyer Ann Witte said in an email. “We will ask the court to stop the city cousin review until our case is heard in court."

It's expected that 2014 is going to be a really big year for cannabis. This is the first year that Colorado, Washington, and Portland ME will have legal weed on 4/20, as well as the numerous other things that are happening. There are so many events going on this year that there's really no excuse why you shouldn't go to one. Here are five events that you should really try to attend this year if you can!

1. The High Times Denver Cannabis Cup

The tickets for the Cup have been selling like hot cakes and even the price increased. People are crawling over each other to get tickets to the Denver Cannabis Cup and it's not mystery as to why. Marijuana is legal for residents and tourists for the first time during this extra weedy holiday and the Cup is expected to be awesome!

2. Spannabis

Held in beautiful Spain, Spannabis is much like the High Times Cup and is extremely popular. It's a huge event that lasts three days and includes music, smoking and the showcasing of beautiful buds.

3. Seattle Hempfest

Much like the Denver Cannabis Cup, Seattle Hempfest is going to be epic. With Washington having legalized cannabis, the state is sure to attract a large amount of attention during this time period. If you're around this area, it's highly recommended that you attend Hempfest this year!

4. Boston Freedom Rally

For those living on the east coast, the Boston Freedom Rally is an awesome event to attend. People from all up and down the east coast attend this event. Massachusetts has decriminalized marijuana and is working on allowing dispensaries. Not only that but activists are pushing for legal cannabis in the state as well.

5. High Times Amsterdam Cup

This one brings together stoners from all over the world. While weed isn't legal in Amsterdam, the laws are very relaxed and the Amsterdam Cup in one of the biggest cannabis events of the year. If you can get a passport and a ticket, you should definitely be attending! And if you live in the area, lucky you!

HailMaryJane.com has teamed up with the 420 Treehouse in Los Angeles to host a party celebrating Halloween and Marijuana. With a musical performance from HMJ’s very own @GoSemi, food trucks, raffles, costume contests, movie screenings, fortune tellers, face paint and DJ Big Kush Jay will be spinning on the turn table all evening this should be a night to remember, if you don't get too high. Dressing up for the holiday is appreciated but not required.

The 420 Treehouse is a posh BYOW bar in Midtown/Culver City area of Los Angeles. The Treehouse comes fully equipped with stoner essentials like couches, large TV’s (including a projector), bong rentals, and healthy snacks in the vending machines. You are not going to find snickers or doritos here. Only organic stuff like plantain chips, coconut water, Mojo Clif bars, and trail mix combos are here and in my opinion, thats whats up. I’ve moved to a point in my life where I can really appreciate that type of food.

It wasn’t Seattle’s first “Hempfest” celebrating recreational marijuana. That was 22 years ago.

But the gathering this weekend in the “Emerald City” – featuring crafts, music, food booths, speakers, and plenty of pungent smoke – was the first cannabis protest rally since voters in Washington State approved a ballot measure (I-502) last November legalizing recreational use of the drug.

It also included pro-legalization lawyers explaining the law – including a warning that marijuana is still illegal under federal law – as well as uniformed police officers handing out snacks to smokers feeling the “munchies.”

RECOMMENDED: How much do you know about marijuana? Take the quiz

Technically, public use of marijuana remains illegal under Washington's new law, punishable by a $103 ticket. But Seattle police have only been giving people warnings since the law passed, and they had no plans to write anyone up at Hempfest.

But those bags of nacho-cheese Doritos chips handed out Saturday by Seattle’s finest came with a friendly but very clear message as well.

“We thought you might be hungry,” the label reads. “We also thought now might be a good time for a refresher on the do’s and don’ts of I-502.

The don’ts: "Don't drive while high. Don’t give, sell, or shotgun weed to people under 21. Don't use pot in public. You could be cited but we'd rather give you a warning."

The do’s: “Do listen to Dark Side of the Moon at a reasonable volume. Do enjoy Hempfest.”

SEATTLE, WA — For three days in August, hundreds of thousands of people will descend on Myrtle Edwards and Centennial Parks on Seattle’s waterfront for the 22nd annual Hempfest, traditionally the largest annual gathering of pro-cannabis supporters in the world. But following last year’s historic passage of Initiative 502, which legalized the adult possession of marijuana in the state, this year’s Hempfest promises one thing that the previous 21 did not: a victory celebration.

What started out as a “humble gathering of stoners” in 1991, conceived during a peace vigil in opposition of the first Gulf War and attracting a crowd of about 500 people, has grown to a world-renowned 3 day “protestival” celebrating human rights, equality, freedom, and of course, cannabis.

Spanning 1.3 miles, two public parks, six stages, and more than 300 vendors and being staffed by over 1,000 volunteers, Hempfest isn’t just the largest annual pro-pot rally in the world — it is also one of the largest special events in the State of Washington.

With a Special Events permit requiring a $1 million insurance policy, emergency evacuation plans, and safety and security personnel, Hempfest is not a “pot party in the park”; it is a bona-fide political rally whose organizers work closely with city officials to ensure a successful — and peaceful — annual tradition.

Past performers have included well known bands such as Potluck, the Kottonmouth Kings, Fishbone, Rehab, and countless others, with notable speakers including Jack Herer, Woody Harrelson, Rick Steves, and many local and national political figures and marijuana reform activists addressing the crowds.